Review: Stepbrothers (2008)

Watching "Stepbrothers" doesn't so much inspire me to review the film
itself as it does to warn people that 40-year olds who act like
14-year olds for the mere sake of acting like a 14-year old doesn't
make for a funny film.  I'll give Will Ferrell credit for his
relentless desire to make people laugh.  And, I'll give credit to John
C. Reilly for having such a varied resume of film roles.  They've been
in better quality films.  And I like them both.  But the premise of
"Stepbrothers" creates a lose-lose situation.  When these two
middle-aged men act like morons, it's stupid.  And, when these two
middle-aged men act like middle-aged men, they're not funny.  So,
either the film is stupid or not funny.

Anyway, Ferrell plays Brennan, who is the son of divorced-mom Nancy
(Mary Steenburgen).  Meanwhile, Reilly plays Dale, who is the son of
widower Robert (Richard Jenkins).  Props do go to the venerable
Steenburgen/Jenkins who both act and look genuinely appreciative to be
in a Hollywood film.  And, they do all that they can do considering
the fact that their kids are the biggest losers in the world.

While the two parents find love and harmony in their new relationship,
Brennan and Dale, initially, do not get along whatsoever.  So, in the
first act, the two are never shy about voicing their hatred for one
another and find ways to annoy one another. These acts vary along the
spectrum of meanness and cruelty.  But on a 10-point scale in terms of
how funny these pranks are, I'd give it a 3.  Why am I so unmoved?
Well, it seems that the film is relying on heaving cursing to produce
the laughs.  The premise of men acting like pre-adolescents can only
carry the film for about 25 minutes, which leaves 55 to go.  And
there's barely any evidence of inventiveness in the film.

The second act shows some signs of life as Brennan and Dale put aside
their differences so that they can both combat Brennan's smarmy
brother, Derrick (Adam Scott).  It's kind of sad that even though
Derrick is so easy-to-hate and one-dimensional, he's actually the best
thing about the movie.  Derrick's family sing-a-long that he
orchestrates is not so much bizarre as it is cringe-inducing.  And he
looks like one of those people that you'd see on a midnight
infomercial hawking his real estate secrets where you can become a
millionaire with no money down.

I found the experience of watching the film discomforting.  I'm not
sure if civilized 40-year olds really talk like that.  As for their
judgment, here's an odd one.  It's doubtful that even a 40-year old
with the mind of a-14 year old would try to bury someone alive.
Meanwhile, it's doubtful that an equally idiotic 40-year old with the
mind of a 14-year old would sit there and let himself be buried.

If you want to see a nice story of redemption using the same Final Act
DNA of what was used here, I would like to refer you to these two
YouTube vignettes, which highlights an ugly duckling (yes, even less
attractive than John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell) that turns into a
swan.
1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YviskL060Xw&feature=related
2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDB9zwlXrB8

You can watch those videos for 15 minutes.  Or you can watch
"Stepbrothers" for 93 long minutes.

Grade:  C-

S:      2 out of 3
L:      3 out of 3
V:      2 out of 3